Re: Question for Earl on double heading

I had always wondered how double headed steam worked as well then I got to experience it as the fireman for the road engine on the Iowa Interstate. July 2011 we pulled a 68 car freight, 7200 ton train from Iowa City Iowa to Rock Island Illinois. On the tail of that was the eight passenger cars two business cars and a SD 38-2.
During the hottest week in 2011 the Iowa Interstate took their two QJ steamers to TrainFest in Rock Island. During their deadhead move which started in Newton, Iowa, we picked up a revenue freight in Iowa City. Right off the bat we had to climb out of Iowa City and attack the eastern ruling grade of 1% I believe, have to find my notes to make sure. Both steamers worked the train with engineers giving had signals back and fourth. The Helper had a spot for about twenty miles where it had problems making steam so the road engine worked a bit more. It was an amazing experience. Looking ahead and seeing the helper, looking behind and NOT seeing the end of the train. My one and only steam double header.
I asked Dennis Daugherty who was engineer on the road engine with me after it was over besides signals can you feel it when the helper was HELPING.? He told me that yes and he could tell when he was shoving the helper. He said you can tell when you are shoving when you throttle it and see the tender shift to the side. I was too busy keeping steam to pay attention to the "feel" I guess.

Dan